Career advice

[soundecision]

Hello everyone,

I have been reading this board almost daily for years, and this is my first post. I could really use some advice! I am currently a junior mixer / sound designer at an audio post facility in nyc. I have been running record / mix sessions and building relationships for a few years, and I have been fortunate to work on some great material from film to commercial. Lately I have been working on sound design, and have had some great recognition for my work. Anway, the point is that I am looking for a new opportunity where I can be given a chance to cut my teeth on as much post work as I can, and I am not entirely sure how to go about this. Staying where I am now does not really allow me much room for growth, just because of the nature of the facility. I have sent some resumes out and made some cold calls to not much avail, is it just the economy? Also, most people are looking for someone with a strong client book which is something that I dont have, although I do get requested and referred to from time to time, and as I said, I am constantly building relationships. I have also been looking into the prospect of beoming an in-house mixer at a video editorial, or one stop shop kindof place, though these jobs seem to rarely come around. Also maybe as a freelance sound designer, but that is difficult to secure enough work to make a strong living. So I was wondering if anyone on here had been through this transition, and if you had any advice. Thanks for reading!

[philper]

Originally Posted by soundecision

Hello everyone,

I have been reading this board almost daily for years, and this is my first post. I could really use some advice! I am currently a junior mixer / sound designer at an audio post facility in nyc. I have been running record / mix sessions and building relationships for a few years, and I have been fortunate to work on some great material from film to commercial. Lately I have been working on sound design, and have had some great recognition for my work. Anway, the point is that I am looking for a new opportunity where I can be given a chance to cut my teeth on as much post work as I can, and I am not entirely sure how to go about this. Staying where I am now does not really allow me much room for growth, just because of the nature of the facility. I have sent some resumes out and made some cold calls to not much avail, is it just the economy? Also, most people are looking for someone with a strong client book which is something that I dont have, although I do get requested and referred to from time to time, and as I said, I am constantly building relationships. I have also been looking into the prospect of beoming an in-house mixer at a video editorial, or one stop shop kindof place, though these jobs seem to rarely come around. Also maybe as a freelance sound designer, but that is difficult to secure enough work to make a strong living. So I was wondering if anyone on here had been through this transition, and if you had any advice. Thanks for reading!

You have a firm basis in the biz and a good skillset. You need to keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities (not necessarily in the city you live in now) and wait for your luck to come around.

Philip Perkins

[georgia]

...and in the mean time... count yourself lucky in this economy to HAVE a job... DO NOT leave until you find something real and long term right now.

cheers
geo

[Henchman]

This is the worst time to be a freelancer.
Keep your current job, until something better comes along, and keep building your credits.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Yes be happy you have a job.

One of our clients who works in post in Cleveland suddenly lost her job. The company she was working for was doing very well and then one day they called her in and said today was her last day and they were closing down the department. In today's economy be thankful you have a good full time job.

[Jfriah]

Work, work, work. And enjoy your pay. There are those, right now, who aren't occupying a position.

[every 5 books]

Thought this might be relevant to the thread. it's an email i recently sent to an old colleague. I am currently working as a sound editor in a small creative audio studio.

"i am still very much aspiring to work in a proper audio post house. i mean, this job is great for now, it is a tiny company and as a result i get very hands on with all the projects (currently i am responsible for about 90% of the companies creative output).

And i am definitely learning a lot about how to communicate with clients.

but i am basically just using Logic and monitoring on headphones. I know i shouldn't complain about using my preferred platform for my everyday work, but i constantly feel the urge to be learning more in the audio post side of things. there is a whole world of skills in audio post that i am never going to learn just sitting, honing my logic sound editing skills everyday.

this probably sounds really weird, that i am moaning about having such a creative position. but i hope you see what i mean. I read the post production forum on Gearslutz.com nearly everyday, and pick up new little bits of knowledge from pros all over the world. Stuff about timecode, laybacks, metering & broadcast ready mixes, dialnorm etc... And it makes me hungry to learn more. and to actually experience it personally.

I am using my current position to bulk up my CV with an impressive client list (not to mention experience with real world turnaround times for jobs) and to basically put myself into the "not just a graduate" position.

sorry that was all probably a bit intense.

i was kinda just looking for advice i guess, coz it was puzzling me as to why i could feel so strangely about doing something i love."

I guess being unsatisfied in your current job is just one of those things in life, and these days i should be grateful i have one at all, and through hard work and patience you can eventually get to where you want to be. usually.

My real concern is in the lack of "learning" at my workplace. I can't teach myself everything and my boss isn't what i would call an audio post kinda guy. he likes the idea of it (mostly the idea of buying expensive compressors), but lacks ...well, a lot of fundamental knowledge, and subsequently has little to pass on to me. to say the least..

[every 5 books]

just had to bump this for relevance to Pebble Mills "see saw of experience" thread.

[DynaForte]

Yeah, and likewise I'm in the same boat as Every, and the OP here, and Pebble.

My contract work as taken me to rather large names (kind of). But because it's contracted it provides NO relationships with others, no networking.

I actually must downplay my skill/credits to attempt to get ONE type of position ( a runner etc..) but then stay true to my credits when applying for editing positions etc...

Crrrazy.

All 4 of us seem to be in places where we've outgrown our own current employers and need to make the jump to bigger work - but doing so could mean dropping down in the ranks to reprove myself elsewhere.

Weirdness.

[Sonsey@mac.com]

Some good advice I was once given:

"If you want to be happier in your current job, go looking for another one."

Like all creative, passionate and engaged people, we want to grow and be better. I'm in a situation where although I have a great gig, I've pretty much hit the ceiling in the geographic location I'm in, and have to consider whether to expend my efforts to either a)change location or b)push the ceiling. For a number of reasons, I'm on the change location side of the equation, but looking for opportunities elsewhere, has certainly made me appreciate all the things I DO have at my current gig, and oddly enough, allowed me to find ways to actually push the ceiling.

[soundecision]

Just came across this old thread I had posted a while back and wanted to update as I feel it is relevant.
I decided to take my chances as a freelancer in early 2010 as I wasn't entirely sure of the vein of audio post I wanted to explore. I had spent years in a top commercial audio post house where I began as an assistant then a junior" mixer", but I had long format aspirations as well as the desire to explore more creative sound design opportunities. My freelance work brought me to the next level very quickly and my IMDB credits rose as well. My sound design work played in the superbowl, and I was brought to the attention of a large commercial music house where I am now a staff sound designer with a great room, and I get to work on projects from commercials to film. Point being that like anything else in life careers are what you make of them, and being in the right location at the right time, a strong dedication to create the best possible end product, and a love of your craft can take you as far as you'd like to go.